“Honoring His Mother.” “Is there a vacant place in this bank, which I could fill?” asked a boy with a glowing face, as he stood, with cap in hand, before the president of the bank.
“There is none,” was the reply. “Were you told that we wanted a boy? Who recommended you?”
“No one recommended me, sir,” calmly said the boy. “I only thought I would see.”
There was an honesty and manliness about the lad which pleased the president and led him to continue the conversation.
“You must have friends who could help you in getting a situation; have you told them?”
With a saddened feeling, the boy said: “My mother told me it would be useless to try without friends,” then apologizing for the interruption, he turned to go away; but the gentleman detained him, saying: “Why don’t you stay at school a year or two longer, my young friend, and then try to get a situation?”
“I have no time for school,” was his reply. “I study at home, and keep up with the other boys as well as I can.”
“Then you have had a place already,” said the officer, “why did you leave it?”
“I have not left it, sir,” quietly answered the boy.